Cleaning machine



April 4, 1944. .1. F. MALSBARY Erm.

CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April`4, 1944. F. MALSBARY ErAL CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 uvwslvrolzsT Arm E?,

JOB F. MALSBARY WALTER W. TAYLOR Patented Apr. 4, 1944 2,345,614 CLEANING MACHINE Job F. Malsbary and Walter W. Taylor, Oakland, Calif.

Application April 24, 1942, SerialNo. 440,314

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning machines of the type which use a spray of liquid or cleansing fluid usually at relatively high temperatures, for cleaning an object, such as the frame of an automobile or the like, by the combined action of the impact and the cleaning and dissolving effect of the liquid or fluid. It may also be used for chemical spraying of trees or the like, and other applications such as paint removing, disinfecting or heat treating of liquids.

This invention is an improvement on our invention of a cleaning machine described in our co-pending application, Ser. No. 249,184, and this application is a continuation in part of the latter which has matured into Patent No. 2,295,228.

The general objects of the invention were fully discussed in the co-pending application, and may be briefly summarized as follows:

1. To provide a machine for producing a wide range of different kinds of sprays, from an almost solid spray of liquid to a spray of superheated steam;

2. To feed from a source of pressure greatly in excess of the pressures required and of the capacity of the heater so as to provide for ample reserve pressure;

3. To provide independent control for heat and pressure;

4. Tc utilize excess pressure for 'recirculation and agitation; and

5. To provide automatic heat control means and special spray control means to insure a concentrated spray.

The machine of the present invention is built along similar principles, but differs from the former machine principally in the control elements.

The principal object of this, our present invention, is to provide a machine of the character described in which, as in the other machine, a wide range of sprays may be produced, but in which a selected spray remains substantially constant regardless of the demands made on the course, that the spray'be made to remain the same, and it is the principal object of the present invention Vto provide control, elements which allow the spray to remain substantially the same, regardless ofwhether one, two, or more nozzles are in use at the same time. y

Further objects and advantages'of our invention will appear as the specication proceeds and the novel features of the same will be fully set forth in the claims hereto attached.

The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a, partly diagrammatic assembly view of our apparatus in elevation;

Figure 2, a vertical section through a control valve used in our cleaning machine;

Figure 3, a longitudinal section through a thermostat; and

Figure 4, a side View of a gas valve arrangement, parts being shown in section.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, we wish to have it understood vthat various changes or modications may be made within theiscope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its principal features, our apparatus, as illustrated in Figure 1, comprises two containers I and 2, a high pressure pump 3 for pumping `liquids from the containers through; a coil 4, heating means 5 for the coil 4, a plurality of outletA nozzles k6 for the coil, and suitable control means which will be discussed in their special relationships as the specification proceeds.

The container i is intended toaccommodate a soap solution or other chemical or cleansing agent, and it receives its water supply from the pipe 1, a float control 8 insuring a constant level shut-off of the liquid in the container. The container 2 is intended to accommodate water and `is also fed from the pipe 1 and provided with a suitableoat control 9 for maintaining a desired `water level. Valves IU andrII are provided for shutting off the supply going to the containers.

'i8 prevents the mixture from flowing backward into the water container when the liquids are `recirculvated anda pressure exists within the pump passages and chambers.

The pipe l connects to the intake side of the high pressure pump 3 which may be operated by the motor I9 and which discharges through the pipes 2l) into the coil 4. The intake valves of the pump are shown at 'I4 and 15 and the delivery valve at 16. One of the pipes 20 is provided with a compression chamber 2l for absorbing iiuctuations and surges due to pump action and a pressure gauge 22 is provided. The capacity of the pump should be suiiicient to maintain the reading of the pressure gauge at about 300 pounds during operation. It can be increased or decreased by adjusting valve 28. I'

The pressure and volume provided by the pump is intended to be far in excess of the highest pressure required by the coil under .working conditions. rIhe object o the high excess pressure is to insure sufcient volume to ow through'the coil at all working pressures and under all working conditions and to give the operator Vabsolute control over the pressure and Volume desired even though leaks may develop or part of the surplus pressure be used up in recirculating the liquid within the pump. It is apparent that any other source of high pressure might be substituted ior the pump.

The flow of the liquid through the pipes 20 into the coil 4 is controlled by the valve 23 which is illustrated in detail in Figure 2. This valve is of the pressure reducing and regulating type, its principal object being to maintain a pressure differential between the pump conduit and the coil under working conditions, and to maintain the pressure within the coil substantially constant regardless of changes in the demands on the machine, that is, regardless of whether one, two, or more nozzles are used at the same time.

The valve itself is of more or less standard construction and no novelty `is claimed for its speciiic construction. It comprises a valve housing a having a valve seat b dividing the same into a high pressure side c and a low pressure side d. The valve e is operated by a diaphragm f, the bottom face of which is subjected to the pressure prevailing in thelow-pressure side of the system, and the upper face of which is subjected to the pressure of a spring g, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a screw h.

When the pressure in the low-pressure side of the system rises above that of the spring g, the valve closes and shuts oir further supply. When the pressure in the low-pressure side drops below that of the spring g, the valve opens and 'admits further supply, with the result that the pressure in the low-pressure side remains substantially constant. The principles are well known in the art.

As applied to the machine of the present invention, it will be understood that the pump presents the high-pressure side and the coil the lowpressure side and that the valve serves to maintain the pressure in the coil substantially constant, regardless of the demands made on the machine, as long as there is sucient reserve pressure available on the high-pressure side to flllthe demand.

Since the pump provides a pressure of about 300 pounds, which under any circumstance of Vadjustment exceeds the pressure and volume required in the coil, a by-pass pipe 21 is provided to connect the pipes l5 and 20 and to provide additional agitation and more perfect mixing of the solution. The effective by-pass area may be controlled by an automatic, spring-loaded relief valve 28 capable of manual adjustment.

The coil 4 is suitably mounted in the housing Sil, and a heater 5 is mounted underneath the coil, the latter being arranged so that the liquid flows downward in the coil toward the heater and is thus progressively subjected to increasing heat as it advances. The heater is here illustrated as a gas burner, but it is apparent that an oil burner or any other suitable means of heat might be substituted. The details of the heater unit are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The gas enters at 3l and passes through a manually-operated valve 32 into the lower conipartment 33 of a valve housing 34 which has a diaphragm 35 separating the upper compartment 36 from the lower compartment 33. From the latter compartment the gas enters the pipe 3l leading to the burner 5, subject to the control of a valve 38 operated by the diaphragm 35, which latter is urged toward valve closing position by a spring 39 and by whatever gas pressure prevails in the upper compartment 35, while the main gas pressure in the lower compartment urges the valve toward valve opening position. An orice lil is provided in the diaphragm and tends to equalize the pressure between the two compartments. It is suiciently small, however, to make time a factor in the equalizing process.

'I'he upper compartment is connected, through a pipe 4l, with a by-pass burner 42, and this pipe 4I has a valve 43 operated by the thermostat 44 connected with the discharge end of the coil 4. It is apparent that when the valve 43 is wide open, gas will flow freely from the upper coinpartment 36 of the diaphragm housing to the bypass burner, relieving the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm and permitting the pressure in the lower compartment to lift the valve 38 so as to permit of free flow of gas to the main burner. The exchange of gas between the two compartments is not suiciently fast to balance the pressures. When the valve 43 closes or moves toward closing position, the flow of gas through pipe 4| to the by-pass burner lessens or ceases altogether with the result that the pressures on opposite sides of the diaphragm approach or reach a state of balance which permits the spring 39 to move the diaphragm and the Valve 3B toward 0r into closing position so that feed of gas to the main burner is lessened or checked.

A conventional pilot burner 44 may be connected to the main gas supply 3l ahead of the valve 32, through pipe 45 having a pilot valve 46.

'Ihe thermostat control 44 for the valve 43 is illustrated in detail in Figure 3 and comprises a pipe 41 threadedly connected to the lower end of the coil so as to form a continuation thereof, and formed, on the outside of the housing 3E), with a discharge pipe 48. The pipe 41 is formed with an internal tube 49 made of metal Vwhich expands and contracts in response to temperature changes. To the inner end of this tube is secured, as at 50, a rod 55' of non-expansible material, such as invar steel, which rod extends through the tube to within operative proximity of a push pin 5l which is active on a. valve disc 52 for lifting the same oi its seat 53 over the opposition of the spring 54. The valve disc52 and the seat form the Valve 43. The operative length of the rod 55' may be adjusted by increasing or lessening the engagement therewith of a threaded extension sleeve 55 which operation may be performed through-the handle 56.

The thermostat operates as follows: The liquid passing through pipe 4l toward the outlet pipe 48 travels around the tube 49 and causes the latter to-expand and contract in response to temperature changes. As the tube expands, the invar steel rod, which does not expand accordingly, retracts and allows spring 54 to move the valve disc toward its seat. As the tube 49 contracts, the invar steel rod moves toward the valve and lifts the same oi its seat.

It will be seen, therefore, that a rise in the temperature of the liquid beyond a certain degree causes the valve to move toward closing position, reducing the gas flowing through pipe 4l to the by-pass burner 42 and thereby reduces the main gas feed tothe main gas burner. A fall in temperature of the liquid below the desired degree will cause the valve 43 to open, thereby increasing the ilow through pipe 4| and effecting a corresponding increase in the ilow of gas through the main valve 38.

To adjust the thermostat to different temperatures, it is only necessary to turn the handle one way or the other, whereby the overall length of the invar steel rod 5B with cap 55 is changed and the desired valve operation effected at higher or lower temperatures.

Thus, with one nozzle in operation, the valve 23 will automatically maintain a constant pressure in the coil and the thermostat control will maintain a desired temperature, both pressure and temperature being subject to the control of the operator to suit the spray to the kind of work to be done.

If now a second operator picks up a second nozzle and opens the valve, the demand on the machine is, of course, intensified. But the reduclthermostat control automatically takes care of this tendency to change. As soon as the liquid inthe pipe 4l cools, the invar rod 50' effects a further opening of the valve 43, which in turn, effects a wider opening of the main gas supply valve S4, with the result that additional heat isapplied to return the temperature to the degree desired.

Thus, upon any increase in demand, the reducing valve 23 and the thermostat control cooperate to immediately reproduce the same pressure and temperature conditions in the coil, with the result that the spray of the iirst operator will not be affected by the operation of the second nozzle. The outlet pipe 4B of the thermostat connects with a pipe 58 which latter is provided with a thermometer 59 and a pressure gauge 60, and connects with several lengths of hose 6l, each having a nozzle E at the end thereof. A suitable handhold 62 is provided near each nozzle, and

the .opening of the 4reducing valve and the remainder of the machine to build up desired` pressures within the coil.

While we have principally discussed the-pressure capacity of the pump as being invexcess of any pressure required in the system, it should be understood that the volume capacity of the pump should also be such that it feeds a quantity of liquid considerably in excess of theheater capacity of the system.

The operation of our apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The entire apparatus is under perfect control by the operator who may regulate temperature and pressure within the coil by observation of the thermometer 59 and the pressure gauge 6D, and by operation of the thermostat adjusting handle 56 and adjustment of the pressure reducing and regulating valve 23. Ample pressure and volume is available since the high pressure pump supplies pressure at 300 pounds or about pounds more than the maximum needed for the coil. This excess in'pressure and volume takes care of possible leaks that may develop, pressure losses, recirculation through the by-pass 23, and at the same time, insures smooth and steady flow into or through the coil at any pressure desired.

The independent temperature and pressure controls allow a wide variety of changes to be made, and a number of particularly characteristic adjustments may be outlined as follows:

l. Pressure (at gauge 60) of 200 pounds within the coil and temperatur-e (at thermometer 59) of 220 F.--This is relatively high pressure and low temperature and results in a really wet spray with a minimum of vapor present. The pressure is amply sufficient to keep the liquid in` solid mass or shape in the coil and a forceful stream of liquid issues from the nozzle, with a minimum of steam vapor present and slugs of water resembling in size No. 5 buckshot of about oneeighth inch diameter, and maintaining its concentrated form for a long distance, say, ten-to twenty feet. This adjustment is particularly adapted for the cleaning of tractors having a heavy coating of mud or solid deposit of grease.

2. Pressure of pounds within the coil and temperature of 300 F.-This pressure is still sufiicient t0 maintain a solid body-of liquid in the coil, but the spray issuing from the nozzle shows smaller subdivisions of particles, comparable to No. l1 buckshot or about one-sixteenth of an' inch in diameter; the spray will still be mostly water, but will be accompanied by a Acertain amount of steam, more than in No. 1. This spray would be particularly useful for washing'an automobile having a coating of car grease deposited thereon in a heavy, gummy layer.

3. Pressure of 100 pounds and temperature of 330 F.This results in a ne liquid spray of particles similar in size to bird shot (one thirtysecond of an inch in diameter). The column of liquid in the coil is still solid and the stream issuing from the nozzle is still more water than vapor, but there will be more vapor than under l and 2. This spray would be sufficient for the cleaning of an automobile having but light grease and ordinary traino lm, not very diiiicult toremove.

It will be noted that in the three adjustments discussed thus far, a solid body of liquid is maintained in the coil and this insures a smooth operation, free from jerking, `even without soap or chemicals added. An operator holding the handlewill feel a steady andsmooth flow and may operate thenozzle for a long time Without tiring. Where steam is allowed to form inV the coil and is passed on to the nozzle along with the liquid, the operation becomes jerky, steam alternating with liquid in crowding through the orice, and the nozzle becomes difcult and tiresome to operate, although the operation is smoothed to some extent through the presence of soap in the liquid. A spray of this type lwould be obtained as follows: A

4. Rressure of 100 pounds and temperature of 338 F,.-At this adjustment the coil will contain steam and water, and as a result, a rather spasmodic intermittent spray of steam and water Awill emanate, sputtering out of the nozzlewith a ratherjerky vibrating sensation to the hands of the operator. A spray of this type would be particularly useful for the steaming out of a tank for theremoval of volatile vapors.

5. Pressure of 75 pounds and temperature: of

350 F.-This results in superheated steam adapted for industrial uses; steam cleaning of clothes, dry steam for heating and vulcanizing, house heating, running machinery, etc.

While thus our machine performs all of the functions of the machine described in our copending application, and is adapted to produce a wide range of sprays characteristic of our other machine, it has the additional advantage of automatically maintaining the spray to which it has been adjusted, regardless of changes in the demands made on the machine. When, for instance, a second, or even a third nozzle is opened, the pressure reducing and regulating valve 2 3 will automatically feed an additional amount of liquid through the machine, commensurate with the demand, and will maintain the same pressure in the coil.v At the same time the thermostat control will automatically supply additional heat units to take care of the additional load and will maintain the temperature in the coil constant.

To relieve excess pressure in the coil 4, we provide a pipe connection having a pressure relief valve ll discharging into the tank I. The pipe 10 may also be connected to the tank I through a pipe 'l2 leading to the botto-m portion 0f the tank and being controlled by a valve 13. This connection is used when it is desired to agitate the solution or to stir a new mixture,

We claim:

l. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the nrst conduit and having a restricted discharge orifice, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, means for heating the coil, a thermostat control for maintaining the coil temperature constant at a given setting, the pressure-maintaining means in the rst conduit having a coil feeding capacity in excess of the coil requirements and the heater capacity under normal operating conditions, and the valve and the thermostat control cooperating in maintaining the pressure and the temperature in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil within the range of the machine.

2. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for pumping a liquid thereinto under high pressure, control means for the conduit -to maintain the pressuresubstantially constant and comprising a compression chamber attached to the conduit and a manually-controlled valve operable to establish a desired'pressure in said conduit, a second conduit including a coil connected to the rst conduit and having a restricted discharge orifice, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, means for heating the coil, a thermostat control for maintaining the coil temperature constant at a given setting,`the pressure-maintaining means in the rst conduit having a coil-feeding capacity in excess of the coil requirements and the heater capacity under normal operating conditions, and the valve and the thermostat control cooperating in maintaining the pressure and the temperature in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil within the range of the machine.

3. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the rst conduit and having a restricted discharge orifice, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, means for heating the coil, a thermostat control for maintaining the coil temperature constant at a given setting, and the valve and the thermostat control cooperating in maintaining the pressure and the temperature in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil Within the range of the machine.

4. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for pumping a liquid thereinto under high pressure, control means for the conduit to maintain the pressure substantially constant and comprising a compression chamber attached to the conduit and a manually-controlled valve operable to establish a desired pressure in said conduit, a second conduit including a coil connected to the rst conduit and having a restricted discharge orice, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, means for heating the coil, a thermostat control for maintaining the coil temperature constant at a given setting, and the valve and the thermostat control cooperating in maintaining the pressure and the temperature in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil within the range of the machine.

5. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the first conduit and having a discharge orice, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the first conduit and the coil, and means for heating the coil, the valve operating to maintain the pressure in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil within the range of the machine.

6. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the firstv conduit and having a discharge oriiice, a pressureresponsive regulating valve between the first conduit and the coil, and means for heating the coil, the pressure-maintaining means in the rst conduit having a coil-feeding capacity in excess of the coil requirements and the heater capacity under normal operating conditions, and the valve operating to maintain the pressure in the coil substantially constant regardless of increases and decreases in the demand on the coil Within the range of the machine.

7. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the rst conduit and having a plurality of discharge nozzles, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the iirst conduit and the coil, and means for heating the coil, the valve operating to maintain the pressure in the coil substantially constant regardless of changes in the number of nozzles used, within the range of the machine.

8. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the first conduit and having a plurality of discharge nozzles, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, and means for heating the coil, the pressure-maintaining means in the rst conduit having a coil-feeding capacity in excess of the coil requirements and the heat capacity under normal operating conditions, and the valve operating to maintain the pressure in the coil substantially constant regardless of changes in the number of nozzles used within the range of the machine.

9. A cleaning machine comprising a conduit, means for maintaining a liquid therein under high and substantially constant pressure, a second conduit including a coil connected to the first conduit and having a plurality of discharge nozzles, a pressure-responsive regulating valve between the rst conduit and the coil, means for heating the coil, a thermostat control for maintaining the coil temperature constant at a given setting, the pressure-maintaining means in the rst conduit having a coil-feeding capacity in excess of the coil requirements and the heater capacity under normal operating conditions, and the valve and the thermostat control cooperating in maintaining the pressure and the temperature in the coil substantially constant regardless of changes in the number of nozzles used within the range of the machine.

JOB F. MALSBARY, WALTER W. TAYLOR. 

